MIL-2115 Flecktarn Flak Vest

[S.P.Q.R. Praetorian]

Has anyone here used it, and if so, know if it will fit a ballistic armor plate for back and front? Here is a pic

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MIL2115-1.html
http://cgi.ebay.com/GERMAN-KEVLAR-BO...QQcmdZViewItem

[The Count(er)]

planning on going to war are we?

[S.P.Q.R. Praetorian]

planning on going to war are we?

Lets just leave it that it will be appreciated in any altercations.

[Thanatos]

You're better off trying to get some real stuff. Flak vests aren't going to cut it, even with some plating.

[Shadow8]

how much money are you planning to spend and what kind of bullet are you planning to stop?

[Serious Spamurai]

Flak vests don't stop anything of note, might as well just wear a plate on it's own, but that won't stop much. Try looking at Kazak stuff, their top range vests stop SVD rounds, but they do civillian/bodyguard ones too that can stop pistol and SMG rounds.


6mm Steel plate from Kazak vest after taking some AKM and SVD rounds at 20 yards:

[S.P.Q.R. Praetorian]

Flak vests don't stop anything of note, might as well just wear a plate on it's own, but that won't stop much. Try looking at Kazak stuff, their top range vests stop SVD rounds, but they do civillian/bodyguard ones too that can stop pistol and SMG rounds.


6mm Steel plate from Kazak vest after taking some AKM and SVD rounds at 20 yards:

I don't trust Russian armor. How come 5.56 AP can punch through steel plate like its paper? Not only that, but that crap is expensive. If I get any expensive armor, it will be MTV or Interceptor or whatever it's name is. I also can't seem to find a place that sells the Commando Lite helmet to civilians. Grrrr...

[Serious Spamurai]

I don't trust Russian armor. How come 5.56 AP can punch through steel plate like its paper? Not only that, but that crap is expensive. If I get any expensive armor, it will be MTV or Interceptor or whatever it's name is. I also can't seem to find a place that sells the Commando Lite helmet to civilians. Grrrr...

It has like 2 inches of Kevlar in front of it. 5.56 ap would probably go through it, but (a) who uses AP 5.56? (b) It's supposed to. Russian stuff is quite good, it's like being a tank, but loads of it has health warnings about wearing it too long because of the weight.

[Thanatos]

Is Dragonskin purchasable for civilians?

[kev-o]

I thought that failed the military's testing trials?

[Thanatos]

I thought that failed the military's testing trials?

I forget, but it's more than enough for us civvies.

[dwringer]

their top range vests stop SVD rounds

That's damn impressive, those things are beastly as hell. I guess not much more powerful than a 30.06 but there's just something intangibly kickass about them, maybe it's the evil communist power they were all infused with.

EDIT: and I dunno about dragonskin, but I saw some stuff on TV that they were using to armor plate CRRC's that's very light and stops bullets cold. However, I don't know if it's good for wearing, as the tests I saw caused quite a blister on the backside of the material.

[Serious Spamurai]

Dragon Skin is available on the civillian market, it's used by PMCs and other non-military personnel plus some special forces, there's a list on their website of case where wearers of the vest have been saved by it:

Name: Rod Huckabay
Incident type: IED Ambush - Vehicular
Location: Najaf, Iraq
Employment: Eagle Team; PSD DynCorp International, Iraq
Details: Survived IED explosion with substantial fragmentation impacts to the upper chest region (within 3/4" from top of armor, full width of the armor) without failure or bruising.

Name: Jaco S. Botes
Incident type: IED Ambush - Vehicular
Location:Iraq
Employment: Team Black Cobra; PSD DynCorp International, Iraq
Details: Survived three impacts from 7.62x39mm API. Two rounds in lower back one inch apart and one in the upper portion of back. Did not even bruise from impacts sustained in body armor.

Name: N/A
Incident type: Patrol Ambush, U.S. Special Operations
Incident: Afghanistan
Employment: U.S. Military
Details: Survived seven impacts from 7.62x54R LPS. All seven rounds contained in approximately 5" impact location within upper front torso.

Name: N/A
Incident type: Sniper encounter
Location: Iraq
Employment: Reconstruction Contractor
Details: Survived five impacts from 7.62x39 mild steel core. All five rounds impacted the front, sides and rear of the vest while descending from power pole repair work. Did not even bruise from impacts sustained in body armor.

[Retribution]

Last one is insane O.O

[dwringer]

They're all insane, especially the ones with no bruising, but the second to last is the most impressive to me. 7.62x54R is a MUCH bigger bullet, with a MUCH bigger cartridge than 7.62x39. Stopping that many is just staggering.

[Serious Spamurai]

It'd be nice to see some combat examples against low calibre, high-velocity rounds like 5.45x39 or 5.56x45 but I doubt we'll be seeing many, if at all.

[Omar Nelson B.]

I believe that the Dragon skin is good to go against 5.56 in general, all pistol rounds and 7.62 in general. I think that there is also a video of a test where they put the vest on top of a live gernade and from what I remember the vest preformed well. (I cannot go and find this video due to the fact the company I work for hates all things fun...)

[S.P.Q.R. Praetorian]

You're better off trying to get some real stuff. Flak vests aren't going to cut it, even with some plating.

Oh yes they will. With what I am plating them with.

how much money are you planning to spend and what kind of bullet are you planning to stop?

I am buying ceramic STAND ALONE plates, that will stop three 30-06 AP rounds closely spaced at 20 yards I think.

Flak vests don't stop anything of note, might as well just wear a plate on it's own, but that won't stop much.

I know. Flak vest I want only stops sharpnel, 45 ACP(sometimes), 380 ACP, and some other small crappy stuff. I would like to fit to plate in between the vest so I don't have to screw with how I would fit it stand alone. I also don't really have the money for a 400 dollar armor carrier from Blackhawk anyhow. My next step, is a PASGT helmet.

[Thanatos]

I am buying ceramic STAND ALONE plates, that will stop three 30-06 AP rounds closely spaced at 20 yards I think.

Why settle for less? Your numbers are most in theory, you can never know what will happen until it gets punctured with a bullet.

[S.P.Q.R. Praetorian]

Why settle for less? Your numbers are most in theory, you can never know what will happen until it gets punctured with a bullet.

It has been tested, and the AP rounds never dented the other side of the armor. Body armor probably wouldn't do me much good because I would be such a large target, but then again, it may be a lifesaver.